Health Briefs November 16, 2012

Hospice prepping baskets for patients, familiesNorth Mississippi Medical Center Hospice program is currently accepting donations of items and funds to prepare care baskets for hospice patients and bereaved families throughout 18 counties in north Mississippi.
Each December, the hospice staff and volunteers compile and deliver approximately 100 care baskets for those with terminal illnesses and their families.
Suggested items include: snack food items such as raisins, nuts, cookies, snack crackers and microwave popcorn, bottled water, hot chocolate and tea mix, regular and sugar-free candy, including chocolate, personal care items, boxes or individual packs of tissue, bookmarks, notepads, handmade items – especially from children, new Christmas ornaments or decorations, pill dispenser boxes and music CDs.
Monetary donations are also accepted to purchase special needs for patients, as well as containers and packaging for the baskets. Items may be delivered through Dec. 10, to the NMMC Hospice office located in President Plaza at 422A President St., Tupelo.
For more information, call Chris Maynard at (662) 377-3612 or (800) 843-3375, or email cpmaynard@nmhs.net.

Autism advisory panel will hold hearing Nov. 27The Mississippi Autism Advisory Committee has set the first of a series of meetings to get input from those with autism, their families, caregivers and professionals who work with them.
The first hearing will be held from 6 until 7:30 p.m., Nov. 27 at the Eudora Welty Library, 300 N. State St., in Jackson.
Information gathered at these hearings will be used to guide the committee’s recommendations to lawmakers, service providers, policy makers and others about the needs of this growing community.
An estimated 10,174 Mississippi children have autism – a 462 percent increase in the past decade. Many of these children can overcome the most debilitating effects of the disorder if given access to critical therapies.
More hearing dates and locations will be announced soon.

Health Help Mississippi launches mobile appHealth Help Mississippi has partnered with the Young Invincibles to get people connected to health care.
The “Your Health Care Finder,” a mobile application allows users to find health care services in their area, search for doctors by category or location. It also provides answers to frequently asked questions about health care reform, and includes a guide for health insurance terminology.
To download the app, visit iTunes or Google Play store and search “Your Health Care Finder Mississippi,” or visit http://bit.ly/RB3lCq
For more information, visit www.healthhelpms.org.